Some parents across the border in England are threatening to keep their children off school this week in protest against SATs tests being taken there by seven and 11 year-olds.

Wales phased out SATs between 2002 and 2005.

Since 2013, all pupils in Wales in years two to nine, aged seven to 14, sit annual reading and numeracy tests, which are aimed at monitoring progress and identifying gaps in knowledge. These are known as National Tests.

So what is the difference in the two? Are tests in Wales or England harder and what are results used for anyway? We take a look.

What Are SATs in England, who takes them and when?

SATs are national tests that children take twice during primary school in England at age seven and 11. SATs are taken by secondary pupils in the week beginning May 14 but can be taken any time in May by primary pupils.

What are National Tests in Wales, who takes them and when?

National Tests in Wales are taken by all children aged seven to 11. Secondary pupils take the tests in April and primary pupils in May.

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What are results used for and can you fail?

There is no pass or fail in either England or Wales.

In Wales and England the results are used to measure pupil progress. In England headteachers, local authorities and the Department for Education use the results to help identify schools that are struggling or doing well so they can share best practice.

In England children are expected to reach the national standard in both year two and year six. This is a particular score that reflects where the Department for Education thinks children should be by that stage of their education. Last year, 61 per cent of children reached it in all subjects.

What do England's SATs test children on then?

In year two they are tested on maths arithmetic, maths reasoning, English reading English grammar, punctuation and spelling (optional test).

In year six pupils are tested on English grammar, punctuation and spelling

English reading and maths arithmetic and reasoning.

What do Wales’ National Tests assess?

There are three tests: reading, procedural numeracy and numerical reasoning (problem solving) for ages seven to 14, years two to nine.

Are they compulsory?

Yes but last September the Department for Education in England announced that from 2023 their year two SATs for seven year-olds will be made non-statutory and schools will be able to choose whether to administer them or not.

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What’s the problem in England?

Every year, there is a debate in England about the effectiveness of SATs, cheating and reports of some children becoming very stressed. Some parents have boycotted them.

Parent groups such as Let Our Kids Be Kids plan to boycott Sats this year by taking their children out of primary school when the tests start.

What do people think about Wales’ National Tests?

Parents have reported their children becoming so anxious that they have been in tears, can’t sleep and feel ill with stress.

What do schools and governments say?

In Wales the Welsh Government says pupils should not be revising and should not be stressed. The tests here are to gauge progress on what is learned in class alone.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The current national tests have been developed specifically for the Welsh context and, unlike in England, are not used to judge schools but simply to provide teachers with information on how learners are progressing and to plan next steps.”

Numerical reasoning for 11 year-old year 6 pupils in Wales’ National Tests

77 000 or 150 000?

Whenever you see an estimate of the number of people in a crowd you need to think about who has made the estimate.

For example, there was a rally in Hong Kong remembering Chinese people who died. Here

are two different estimates of the number of people who attended. One estimate was made by the people who organised the event. The other estimate was made by the police. Which do you think was made by the organisers of the event?

Discuss, drawing out that organisers may over-estimate to show how much support they have.

England SATs reading questions for seven year-olds

Write one word to complete the sentence below.

We have PE outside .......it is not raining.

Circle the word in the sentence below that must have

a capital letter - my class is singing in assembly.

Circle the noun in this sentence - The shoes were shiny

Wales’ reading test questions for seven year-olds

Look at the sentences below. Each one has a word missing.

Tick the word that best fits the gap.

You do not need to write the word in the gap.

Dylan’s lucky number is... tick one word from the following: tree, free, these, there, three

Tick one word from the following: run, ran, sat, sit, rat to fill in the gap in this sentence - The fox... past the gate.

Tick one word from the following: teacher, plumber, builder, gardener, doctor to fill the gap in the following sentence - The... had to sweep up all the leaves.